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Match Vault: Round 5

Adelaide United v Sydney FC – Monday, 31 December 2012

This season we will be looking ahead to the Reds' Hyundai A-League matches by rolling back the clock and revisiting some of the club’s most memorable clashes against our upcoming opponents.

With an equal-top of the table clash beckoning on Friday night at Coopers Stadium against Sydney FC, we remember a triumphant 3-0 win against our round five opponents from the 2012/13 season on New Years Eve.

United were down in confidence heading into the match after losing to Western Sydney Wanderers 6-1 and Brisbane Roar 1-0 in rounds 12 and 13 respectively. Meanwhile the Sky-Blues were in form after beating eventual champions Central Coast Mariners 1-0 a round prior, but were set to face Adelaide without World Cup winner, marquee-man, and captain, Alessandro Del Piero.

Sydney looked much more fragile than against the Mariners a week earlier and fell behind after just 19 minutes through a Dario Vidosic header. With room to exploit and pace to burn, United left-back Cassio found space on the flank and whipped a delightful cross into the box. Vidosic wriggled free from his marker and glanced the ball into the far corner of the net, beating outstretched Sydney goalkeeper, Vedran Janjetovic.

And just ten minutes later, the Reds had their second. Striker, Bruce Djite, was fouled by defender, Sebastian Ryall, in Sydney’s defensive 18-yard-box and a penalty was rightfully awarded to Adelaide. Vidosic calmly converted from the spot by sending Janjetovic the wrong way – beating him for the second time in relatively quick succession.

Iain Ramsay capped off a brilliant performance by United in the 61st minute when he was on-hand to finish from six yards after a saved Djite effort fell at his mercy.

Although the game finished 3-0, the Reds had more chances throughout the match and ended up striking the frame of the goal on three separate occasions.

By the end of the season, United would finish their domestic campaign in fourth position – a single point behind third placed Melbourne Victory – while Sydney would miss out on the finals on goal difference to Perth Glory, finishing seventh overall. The Reds were eventually knocked-out in the first round of the finals, after losing 2-1 to Brisbane Roar at Coopers Stadium.